Sports stars react to Travon Martin verdict win mix of comments

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz has apologized for a message he sent on Twitter in the wake of the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial.

He wasn't alone in either his regret or his initial reaction. Other professional sports athletes took to social media after Saturday's verdict. The results were a mixture of angry, surprise, regret and condolence.

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz

Cruz sent a series of tweets Sunday calling his message from a night earlier a "mistake," adding that he "never will advocate violence under any circumstances." The original message was deleted.

I apologize, that's why I deleted it. I believe conversation not confrontation leads to change and progress. I never have and never will

Zimmerman will spend no time behind bars in the Feb. 26, 2012, slaying of Martin in Sanford, Fla. He will, however, face possible civil suit by the Martin family. And his life likely will never be his own, owning to the angry reaction he faces. News reports already say he is a recluse because of the shooting death.

President Barack Obama called Martin's death a tragedy for America but asked that Americans respect calls for calm reflection.

Monday dawns and will bring a new chapter to the Zimmerman-Martin story. NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous started a petition calling for the Justice Department to open a civil rights case against Zimmerman.

Violence was limited over the weekend but protests were widespread Sunday. Rallies drew thousands in major cities to decry what Martin supporters call a miscarriage of justice.